THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE M&P Bodyguard V. Ruger LCP

[Smoke]

I’m looking at getting a pocket pistol; I’ve narrowed my choices to an LCP or a Bodyguard.

My first criteria is that it really has to be a pocket pistol, I want to be able to put it in my pocket and have it disappear so I’m probably looking at a .380 (unless there is a 9mm out there that’s actually that small)

I don’t want a revolver, because again I need something that is absolutely concealable and I don’t want to get into a new caliber.
I’ve narrowed my choices to an LCP or a Bodyguard.

The biggest plus of the LCP is that my wife already has one so I’m don’t have to pick up all new magazines for a bodyguard. The plus for the bodyguard is that it’s a S&W.

I’d like input from owners of one or both as to which would be the better choice.

 

[Protected One]

I’m looking at getting a pocket pistol; I’ve narrowed my choices to an LCP or a Bodyguard.

My first criteria is that it really has to be a pocket pistol, I want to be able to put it in my pocket and have it disappear so I’m probably looking at a .380 (unless there is a 9mm out there that’s actually that small)

I don’t want a revolver, because again I need something that is absolutely concealable and I don’t want to get into a new caliber.
I’ve narrowed my choices to an LCP or a Bodyguard.

The biggest plus of the LCP is that my wife already has one so I’m don’t have to pick up all new magazines for a bodyguard. The plus for the bodyguard is that it’s a S&W.

I’d like input from owners of one or both as to which would be the better choice.

The LCP is a nice gun. Personally,I own the Bodyguard with the laser & safety. Though "slightly" bigger because of the laser it STILL fits perfectly in any pocket I have - deep or shallow. Other than the "plus" of it being a S&W it also has better sights than the LCP (should the need arise), and the slide locks back after the last round.

My wife has a Glock 42 because it is the least recoil of the pocket .380's, but I like my bodyguard. Besides...its better looking!

 

[Fastbolt]

Coin toss.

I have the previous version of the LCP (before the trigger & sight upgrade).

I compared it against the previous Bodyguard (before M&P version w/o laser). The LCP was just enough smaller that it was noticeable. So much so, that I ended up putting a soft rubber sleeve grip on it (better fit for my middle finger).

Some big guys I've known (I'm only 509/180) have expressed dislike of the both for their diminutive size, so it's all relative.

The trigger pull on my LCP is better than that of the BG's I've tried.

The minimal sights are reminiscent of using an older J-frame, meaning really minimal. I added a dab of a couple different colors before I found one that worked for my eyes under different light/low light conditions.

The LCP is remarkably accurate for what I expected. The BG seems just as accurate, but it's a bit more work due to the heavier trigger. The bulk of my training/practice for my pocket guns involves drills between 1-11 yds, and that's fine for these little guns.

I've been meaning to try one of the newest M&P BG's some time, as I wouldn't mind having a second itty bitty .380 pocket pistol. I own 7 J-frames, so why not?

I like not having the laser, myself.

Neither is really up to any of my J's as far as being hand-filling and having a revolver-like trigger. There's some snap to the felt recoil, and the trigger guard starts to hammer my index finger knuckle (just like an Airweight using +P).

The little .380, while offering some more modern hollowpoints nowadays, still lacks the bullet weight/mass you can find for the .38 Spl.

FWIW, the last .380 I owned/carried was more than 25 years ago (Beretta M84), but the significantly reduced size and increased reliability of these newer .380's made me reconsider the .380 for those times when one of my J's wouldn't fit into the pocket of some of my jeans. It also helped that the LCP didn't offer the same thickness (cylinder) that could dig into my thigh after a while (did I mention tight pockets & pant legs? ).

All things considered, I think the little .380's do fill a useful role, and that both the LCP or BG380 are decent choices ... but neither are "up to" what's available in a good 5-shot .38 snub, especially with some of the better .38 ammo being offered.

Coin toss.

Handy, though. I just came back from a short out-of-state driving trip for a family get-together, and the LEOSA weapon I took along was my LCP. First time I haven't taken along a J-frame or one of my subcompact 9/.40's.

 

[b_san]

I have both (had 2 BGs but the wife now has my G42 so I sold 1 of them) and carry the LCP in my pocket every day. If your ultimate purpose is light pocket gun that you can forget is in your pocket then the LCP can't be beat. It's not a target gun but it goes bang every time and is very concealable. I did add the Galloway Precision SS guide rod/spring which was a noticable improvement in the snappy recoil without affecting reliability.

 

[3dots]

I've shot them both but decided on the BG380. Just feels better in my hand and has the features I wanted. Either is a great choice for the pocket and the most important aspect is that they'll keep you carrying.

 

[Smoke]

Let me clarify exactly what I have in mind. I can take my wife’s LCP, put it in a DeSantis Gunhide holster, stick it in my back pocket and you’ll never know it’s there. That’s what I’m looking for in terms of concealment.

If there is a 9mm I can do that with I’d be interested but I just don’t think there is

 

[Fishinfool]

Let me clarify exactly what I have in mind. I can take my wife’s LCP, put it in a DeSantis Gunhide holster, stick it in my back pocket and you’ll never know it’s there. That’s what I’m looking for in terms of concealment.

If there is a 9mm I can do that with I’d be interested but I just don’t think there is

There are some pretty small 9mm's out there these days, but I have still not seen one as small as a LCP. Just being "slightly bigger" can be a real consideration for pocket carry.

Personaly, I usually have something bigger on my hip, but I always have an LCP in my pocket. Mine has never malfunctioned in about 500 rounds of assorted ammo, and has point and shoot combat accuracy. No experience with the BG.

Larry

 

[Smoke]

There are some pretty small 9mm's out there these days, but I have still not seen one as small as a LCP. Just being "slightly bigger" can be a real consideration for pocket carry.

The reason I mention the 9mm is that someone suggested an M&P Shield on another forum and it just looks too big.

 

[Fishinfool]

The reason I mention the 9mm is that someone suggested an M&P Shield on another forum and it just looks too big.

Maybe go to a gun shop that has one, and see how it feels for pocket carry. Heck, I can put a 4 inch N frame in my pocket, doesn't mean its going to work out...

Another thing I like about the LCP design is the long, D/A like trigger pull. Maybe its just me, but I am leery of S/A and Glock like trigger pulls for pocket carry.

Larry

 

[Florida J Frame]

The reason I mention the 9mm is that someone suggested an M&P Shield on another forum and it just looks too big.

I have both the LCP and the Shield as well as a 642. The shield and the 642 are both easy to carry in Dockers or cargo shorts but the LCP is still my go to gun for deep cover. I can drop it in a Mika holster and carry it in jeans, dress pants or shorts and it doesn't print at all. With the proper load I don't feel undergunned with the little .380 and it's so light (12oz fully loaded) you can actually forget it's there.

 

[b_san]

The reason I mention the 9mm is that someone suggested an M&P Shield on another forum and it just looks too big.

Yep I have one of those too, way too big for the pocket, front or back IMO. The LC9 and Sig P938 are both smaller but I still wouldn't pocket them, for that matter I don't pocket my Sig P238 or G42 either and those are .380s. To me, the only real choices in pocket carry are the BG, LCP or a light J (342 etc.). I'm not real comfortable with the width of the cylinder in my front pants/shorts pocket though so if that's where you want to carry it I prefer the LCP. I dont like back pocket since sitting on my gun is uncomfortable.

 

[Protected One]

I also have the 9mm Shield and consider it too big for pocket carry even though I'm 6'-2" 200lb's. As others have mentioned...either is a good choice, but my preference is the BG.

I don't like back pocket carry because sitting on my gun is just not desirable. Then there's the possibility of it coming out w/o knowing...as one poor guy experienced while visiting Disneyworld with his family.
Next kid getting on the ride goes "LOOK DAD, A GUN!!!"

 

[Engine49guy]

I carried a Walther PPK for years and purchased a Ruger LCP shortly after they came out for around $300 IIRC ,
Wanted it as a hot weather shorts pocket gun and wasnt excited about the KelTec.
The Ruger had a Very Looong trigger pull as it cocks the striker feeling like a revolver in DA mode but unlike a revolver (or the PPK for that matter) in the case of a light primer strike ...No second trigger pull !
just dead trigger requiring the FTF drill clearing and chambering a new round, also (unlike the PPK ) the slide slams shut after the last round is fired for the old "Click" on an empty chamber.

The straw that broke the camels back was the long spongy trigger pull translated to horrible accuracy even at very close range .
Sold the LCP and went back to the PPK .

 

[HankG]

Diamondback makes the smallest 9mm I have seen to date, but you have to get one of the 2nd generation pistols, not the 1st. I don't know how to determine the second from the first though because they look the same. I carry one of their 2nd generation .380s and shoot Hornady XTPs with it. It's the same size and weight as the Ruger and Smith, possibly slightly smaller. It has the smoothest trigger system on the market and is exceptionally accurate. The 9mm is only marginally larger. They don't want you to shoot anything larger than a 124 grain bullet from the pistol because of it's diminutive size. They've definitely pushed the envelope of size and weight vs recoil, to the limit, possibly to close to the limit with anything above 115 grain ammo. The slide, striker group is very similar to a Glock, the trigger group is a copy of the Kahr.

Scroll down to the second section of the chart for the 9mms. Sorry to digress from the original question...thought I'd answer Smoke's question about a small 9mm.

 

[Protected One]

The Ruger had a Very Looong trigger pull as it cocks the striker feeling like a revolver in DA mode but unlike a revolver (or the PPK for that matter) in the case of a light primer strike ...No second trigger pull !
just dead trigger requiring the FTF drill clearing and chambering a new round, also (unlike the PPK ) the slide slams shut after the last round is fired for the old "Click" on an empty chamber.

...and yet ANOTHER benefit of the Bodyguard - double strike capability!

 

[Chris642]

I've handled both the LCP and BG380 and they both appear to be about the same in quality of workmanship. The M&P 380 hasn't been around long enough to judge in terms of reliability but if it's the same as the BG380 version then that is probably on par with the Ruger too. The LCP has a better trigger (which ain't saying much as both are lousy) but the S&W seems to have an easier to rack slide, better sights, double strike capability and most importantly for me has last shot hold-open. Plus, with in it's new incarnation minus what I believe to be a rather useless laser system it's now roughly the same size and weight as the LCP, plus it is a S&W after all.

BTW... and I'm not knocking your choice of a pocket .380 as I kinda want one myself but why do you think a 642 J-Frame is not absolutely concealable? I've been carrying mine in an el-cheapo Blackhawk pocket holster from Wal-Mart in regular khaki and cargo shorts all summer with no issues in comfort or concealabilty. No one has ever noticed or asked about the "bulge" in my pocket. They are more reliable, have a better grip and feel, ammo is cheaper and easier to find with superior stopping power. I don't understand why some people feel they can't successfully conceal carry these.

UPDATE: OK... I saw where you said you intend to carry the gun in your back pocket. In that case, then I understand why you don't want a 642 snubbie, that wouldn't work very well there. I've never conceived of carrying in my rear pocket so I wasn't thinking along those lines. Go with the new M&P 380, it's features alone are a clear winner over the LCP in my opinion, assuming it has the same reliability. Don't bother with the BG380, chances are you will never be able to activate that laser in time in a close-up tense SD encounter for which the gun was designed so it's extra weight and bulk is more of a hindrance then anything.

 

[Engine49guy]

...and yet ANOTHER benefit of the Bodyguard - double strike capability!

Granted although the PPK was designed around 1939 it has that double tap feature plus a slide hold open after last round fired as well as a loaded chamber indicator that works in the dark although its a tad heavier being all steel or SS....(another plus IMO)

 

[lrmnut]

The smallest 9mm I have seen is the Khar CM9 I carry one in front pocket
almost daily (not a back pocket gun) I carried a lcp for at least two years everyday but was not comfortable with the 380 and limited accuracy combo. I would carry the G42 (380) or the M&P Sheild 9 they are almost the same size and are about the limit for front pocket carry I have both just haven't put them in service yet. JMO

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

To answer the OP's question...I would buy the Body Guard.

I carried the LCP regularly for more than a year. Sun up to sun down as the saying goes. I'd travel w/o a bug. I felt safe enough. I am glad they have made improvements to the pistol.

Today it is a different and larger .380 that I pocket in the morning. However b/c of what I have learned here on the forum when I leave the house that pistol becomes the bug and I am carrying a holstered Smith revolver as the primary.

 

[Mushki]

I'm another guy with both. I had the lcp for a few years and used it for my primary carry gun, even installed a crimson trace laser on it. About a year ago my wife decided to get a concealed carry permit and needed a gun to use so she stole it. After a while I knew I needed another pocket carry gun so I got the bg380 to try something different plus it has better sights. After trying the laser on the ruger getting one thrown in with the bg didn't matter to me. I really don't see the benefit of lasers although the crimson trace goes on when you grab the gun, so it's a better setup than the bg. Both guns have their pros and cons. The ruger has a better trigger and is smaller/lighter. The smith is more accurate probably because it fits my mitts better. The slide locks back on the smith once the mag is empty and as I said the sights are better. I have shot these guns more than I needed to and would choose the ruger over the smith every day of the week if my wife didn't steal it. At the end of the day it's your money so it's your choice and you cannot go wrong with either.